DENVER—Colorado is sending National Guard members to help find those who perished in the mudslide in Washington.

The Colorado National Guard said Friday it is sending 16 members of its fatality search and recovery team to the state. They are trained to work with coroners to locate and remove bodies from disasters.

The National Guard has 27 such teams in the country and Colorado’s is the closest to Washington.

In announcing the move, Gov. John Hickenlooper said the members were being sent to Washington along with “our thoughts and prayers.”

The Colorado National Guard played a leading role in evacuating people trapped by massive flooding in mountain towns last fall.